In a bid to counter the effect of mega star Chiranjeevi’s electioneering for his party Praja Rajyam and that of Balakrishna , junior NTR and others for TDP, the ruling Congress is planning to rope in popular hero Mahesh Babu to campaign for it.

It is learnt that Mahesh Babu is not interested to join active politics immediately. Even his father super star Krishna is not ready to bring him into politics at this stage. They feel that entry into politics will have an impact on his film career.

According to party sources, Mahesh Babu will campaign for the ruling party only during the time of elections. Krishna has already declared his support to the Congress.

He also called upon his fans and Mahesh Babu’s fans to strive for victory of Congress in the State.

Another yesteryear heroine Kavitha is also planning to join the Congress shortly.

She hails from Narsapuram of West Godavari district. Actress Jayasudha will join the party at Gandhi Bhavan here tomorrow in the presence of PCC president D Srinivas and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy

Focusing on corruption in politics and issues concerning youth and weaker sections, actor-politician Chiranjeevi on Tuesday said his Praja Rajyam party, if voted to power, will stamp out corruption and provide a clean and transparent government.

The actor’s road show entered the north coastal district of Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, drawing huge crowds all along the route. Addressing several meetings, he sought to strike an emotional chord with the people by referring to the local issues and problems of youth, women and weaker sections.

Social justice, change and corruption-free governance were the main focus of his speeches.

“Politics has become a license to make money at the cost of the common people. Political corruption has become the bane of society. Give me a chance and I will root out corruption,” he told the gatherings.

Expressing solidarity with fishermen, who form a big chunk of voters in the district, Chiranjeevi said the proposed “coastal corridor industrial project” in the region would displace a large number of fishermen.

Chiranjeevi addressed several meetings in Thagarapuvalasa, Anandapuram, Chodavaram, Pendurthi and Sappavaram in the district.

Invoking the message of his superhit film ‘Tagore’, in which he played the role of a crusader against corruption, the superstar said, “Each one of you should become a Tagore and raise your voice against corruption

In a filmi turnabout, megastar Chiranjeevi’s fans, who went on the rampage at the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) office here yesterday, buckled under pressure and apologised to the party observers on Tuesday.

The fans who had hurled slippers at the observers protesting against being ‘‘sidelined’’, were meekness personified today, garlanding the observers and obediently listening to the speakers.

PRP district coordination committee in-charge Siddarath Goud said the party would take up a door-to-door membership drive for a month in the district.

Party workers and Chiranjeevi fans will also take up large-scale tree plantation.

He called upon fans, women and party workers to strengthen the party from the grassroots up.

Goud announced two committees comprising women and Chiranjeevi fans.

The ‘‘fans committee’’ includes Chiru Fans Association members Karate Prabhakar, Thota Navin, Srinivas Reddy and Raju, while the Mahila Varidhi panel includes Jayanti, G Sailaja, Sridevi and Rama Devi.

Party observers said a committee comprising two political leaders would be constituted for each Assembly constituency and would be operational till the completion of the membership drive.

Party observers Deshpande, Chittibabu and Rajgopal, and local leaders Manda Ilaiah, Varadha Reddy and Pravin Kumar were among those present

Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi has started his maiden tour with a bang by promising to give round-the-clock free power to farmers if he was voted to power. The actor-turned-politician launched his Praja Ankita Yatra on Vijayadasami at Arasavelli in Srikakulam district. Though he has often said that he would shun ‘negative politics,’ Chiranjeevi is sharply criticising the Congress government for its “neglect” of the common man and is also lashing out at the principal Opposition, Telugu Desam, during his tour. Huge crowds have been lining up the roads of Srikakulam district to have a glimpse of the actor. In every meeting he is repeatedly saying that “the people’s wishes are Praja Rajyam’s agenda.” Political observers, however, said that Chiranjeevi was still behaving more like a film star than a politician and that his speeches lacked substance and concrete proposals to alleviate the hardships of the poor. Also, even after launching the yatra, Chiranjeevi is continuing with his dilly-dallying on major issues such as state bifurcation, categorisation of SCs, economic reforms, and World Bank policies. Whenever he meets with scribes in the midst of the tour and they pose queries on these key issues, his standard reply is: “We are examining it and we will soon spell out our stand.” This dithering was evident even when journalists asked him about the ongoing atrocities against Christians in Orissa. “We will examine the issue for two to three days and take a stance,” he said. While addressing a series of meetings in Srikakulam, Chiranjeevi said that eradication of corruption would on top of his party’s agenda. Reacting sharply to allegations about his lack of experience in politics, the mega star said one need not know politics to serve the people. “A person who can solve problems of people would be aware of politics,” he said. “I joined politics with a single-point agenda — to serve people.” Meanwhile, Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who joined Praja Rajyam on Thursday, said that Chiranjeevi will announce the party stand on key issues such as mining in the agency areas, special economic zones and coastal corridor when he addresses a public meeting in Makavarapalem on October 17

SANGAREDDY: A die-hard fan of actor and Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi has set out on a cycle rickshaw yatra from Sadasivpet in Medak to Tirupati, on Sunday The fan identified as Ravi, a worker at a tent house, set out on the yatra to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara and seek his blessings to see Chiranjeevi occupy the post of Chief Minister. The 25- year- old is supported by his wife Lakshmi, a labourer. “I am a fan of Chiranjeevi and want to see him as the Chief Minister. After offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara, I started this yatra,” says Ravi, who hopes to reach his destination in a couple of weeks. Ravi arranged his own funds to purchase the rickshaw and design it in addition to other expenditure. Rs. 10,000 expenditure He has to manage funds to the tune of Rs. 10,000 to meet his expenses. “I hope people who wish to see Chiru as Chief Minister will offer help,” he adds.